Proximity based conditional rewards for casino users

Abstract

A computer-implemented method can include determining a location of a mobile device that is proximate to a casino and that is associated with a user. The method can further includes determining a conditional reward that indicates a reward to be provided to the user in response to a condition being completed by the user. The conditional reward can be based on the location of the mobile device relative to the casino. The method can further include transmitting a signal having the conditional reward to the mobile device and determining that the user is at the casino. The method can further include determining that the condition is completed and providing the user with the reward.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A computer-implemented method comprising:
 determining a location of a mobile device that is proximate to a casino and that is associated with a user;   determining a conditional reward that indicates a reward to be provided to the user in response to a condition being completed by the user, the conditional reward being based on the location of the mobile device relative to the casino;   transmitting a signal comprising the conditional reward to the mobile device;   determining that the user is at the casino;   determining that the condition is completed; and   providing the user with the reward.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein determining the location of the mobile device comprises using a first wireless communication technology, wherein determining that the user is at the casino comprises determining that the mobile device is at the casino using a second wireless communication technology distinct from the first wireless communication technology. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein determining the location of the mobile device comprises receiving an additional signal from the mobile device via a telecommunications network, the additional signal comprising a GPS location of the mobile device, wherein determining that the mobile device is at the casino comprises communicating with the mobile device using a short-range wireless communication network that is at the casino. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein determining the conditional reward comprises:
 estimating an amount of time required for the user to arrive at the casino based on the location of the mobile device; and   determining that the condition comprises the user arriving at the casino within a limited amount of time, the limited amount of time being based on the amount of time required for the user to arrive at the casino.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the condition is a first condition that is associated with a first reward and comprises the user arriving at the casino within a first limited amount of time, wherein determining the conditional reward further comprises determining a second condition that is associated with a second reward comprises the user arriving at the casino within a second limited amount of time, the second limited amount of time being less than the first limited amount of time and the second reward being more desirable than the first reward. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein determining the conditional reward comprises:
 determining that a person is associated with the user; and   determining that the condition corresponds to the person and the user being located at the casino,   wherein determining that the condition is completed further comprises determining that the person is at the casino, and   wherein the conditional reward includes a first reward to be provided to the user in response to the condition being completed and a second reward to be provided to the person in response to the condition being completed.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein determining the conditional reward comprises:
 determining a preferred activity for the user at the casino; and   determining that the reward comprises reserving the preferred activity such that the preferred activity is made available to the user in response to the condition being completed.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein determining the preferred activity for the user comprises:
 transmitting a first message to the mobile device requesting feedback corresponding to available activities at the casino;   receiving a second message from the mobile device, the second message comprising feedback corresponding to available activities at the casino; and   responsive to receiving the second message, determining the preferred activity based on the feedback.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein determining the conditional reward comprises:
 determining the reward based on a referral by the user, a frequency of visits by the user to the casino, a duration of visits by the user at the casino, a point status of the user, or an activity previously performed by the user at the casino.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein determining that the user is at the casino comprises detecting use of an identification that is associated with the user at an electronic or electro-mechanical gaming machine (“EGM”) in the casino. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein determining the conditional reward comprises:
 defining a plurality of subsets of activities within the casino;   determining that the condition comprises the user being part of a team that captures a predetermined number of the plurality of subsets, wherein the team captures a subset of the plurality of subsets by the team obtaining a highest score associated with the subset.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein determining the conditional reward comprises:
 determining that the condition corresponds to the user bringing a minimum number of friends to the casino; and   determining that a value of the reward increases based on a number of friends that the user brings to the casino above the minimum number,   wherein determining that the condition is completed further comprises:
 determining the number of friends of the user located at the casino; 
 determining that the number of friends is above the minimum number; and 
 determining the value of the reward based on the number of friends above the minimum number. 
   
     
     
         13 . A system comprising:
 a processor; and   a memory comprising instructions stored therein, the instructions executable by the processor to cause the processor to:
 determine a location of a mobile device that is proximate to a casino and associated with a user; 
 determine a preferred activity of the user within the casino; 
 transmit a signal to the mobile device indicating that the preferred activity is reserved for the user during a period of time, the period of time being based on the location of the mobile device relative to the casino; and 
 provide the mobile device with instructions to access the preferred activity in response to determining that the user is at the casino within the period of time. 
   
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the instructions to cause the processor to determine the location of the mobile device comprise instruction to cause the processor to use a first wireless communication technology, the instructions being further executable to cause the processor to determine that the user is at the casino using a second wireless communication technology that is distinct from the first form of wireless communication. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the instructions to cause the processor to determine the location of the mobile device comprise instructions to cause the processor to receive an additional signal from the mobile device via a telecommunications network, the additional signal comprising a GPS location of the mobile device, wherein the instructions to cause the processor to determine the user is at the casino comprise instructions to cause the processor to communicate with the mobile device using a short-range wireless communication network that is available at the casino. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the instructions are further executable by the processor to cause the processor to:
 determine a conditional reward that indicates a reward to be provided to the user in response to a condition being completed by the user, the reward being based on the location of the mobile device relative to the casino and the conditional reward comprising the reservation of the preferred activity, wherein the instructions to cause the processor to determine the conditional reward comprise instructions to cause the processor to:
 estimate an amount of time required for the user to arrive at the casino based on the location of the mobile device; 
 determine that the condition comprises the user arriving at the casino within a limited amount of time, the limited amount of time being based on the amount of time required for the user to arrive at the casino. 
   
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the condition is a first condition that is associated with a first reward and that comprises the user arriving at the casino within a first limited amount of time, wherein the instructions to cause the processor to determine the conditional reward further comprise causing the processor to determine that a second condition associated with a second reward comprises the user arriving at the casino within a second limited amount of time, the second limited amount of time being less than the first limited amount of time and the second reward being more desirable than the first reward. 
     
     
         18 . A system comprising:
 a processor; and   a memory comprising instructions stored therein, the instructions executable by the processor to cause the processor to:
 transmit a location of a mobile device that is proximate to a casino and associated with a user to a remote device associated with the casino; 
 receive a message from the remote device in response to communicating the location of the mobile device, the message indicating a plurality of rewards that are available to the user in response to the user being at the casino and each reward of the plurality of rewards comprising a limited amount of time in which to claim each reward of the plurality of rewards; and 
 receive an indication of a given reward of the plurality of rewards being provided to the user in response to the user being at the casino within the limited amount of time associated with the reward. 
   
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the instructions to cause the processor to transmit the location of the mobile device further cause the processor to transmit the location of the mobile device using a first wireless communication technology, wherein the instructions are further executable by the processor to cause the processor to transmit a signal to the remote device using a second wireless communication technology distinct from the first wireless communication technology in response to the user being at the casino. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the instructions to cause the processor to transmit the location of the mobile device further cause the processor to communicate a GPS location of the mobile device to the remote device via a telecommunications network, wherein the instructions are further executable by the processor to cause the processor to indicate to the remote device that the user is in the casino by communicating over a short-range wireless communication network available at the casino. 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the instructions are further executable by the processor for causing the processor to transmit feedback to the remote device, the feedback comprising a rating of a plurality of EGM at the casino, wherein the plurality of rewards comprises an opportunity to reserve an EGM of the plurality of EGMs at the casino for a specific period of time, the specific period of time being based on the location of the mobile device relative to the casino and the EGM being selected from the plurality of gaming machines based on the feedback.